Led by the Laboratory of Insurrectionary Imagination

Saturday 23 January 2010, 10.30–17.30
Saturday 30 January 2010, 10.30–17.30

In 1989 thousands of citizens defied the law and brought down the authoritarian regimes that were already crumbling under economic burdens across Eastern Europe.  Many of the seeds of these revolutions were planted by artists and subcultures who devised forms of civil disobedience and opened up a space for dissent.

Twenty years later we are in the midst of an unprecedented economic and ecological crisis not unlike that which swept across the east in 1989 and yet voices of dissent are being increasingly repressed. There has never been a more urgent time to develop new forms of creative disobedience and artists have the skills and imagination to do this. This workshop will explore the history and practice of creative disobedience and will culminate in a co-created intervention. No arts or activism experience necessary.

Tate Modern  Level 7 East Room
£50 (£35 concessions), booking recommended
Price includes refreshments

    

Programme:

Day 1 Saturday 23 January

10.30 - 10.45 Introductions and welcome

10.45 - 12.30 A pedagogic performance happening that explores the historical context of art and activism. This will involve participatory exercises, some big dresses, useful games, strange objects, lots of stories and a couple of big questions.

12.30 -13.00 Tools of Conviviality:  An introduction to consensus decision making principles. (You can find more details on the Seeds For Change Network). At the end of this session we will form seven affinity groups.

13.00 - 14.00 Lunch break. Please bring your own. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided.

14.00 - 15.00 Tools of Conviviality: 2. An Introduction to spokes councils and some answers to big questions.

16.00 - 17.00 Laboratory begins. Some permaculture design ideas are shared to help research and plan intervention. Affinity groups work together. (Visit the Permaculture Association for further information)

During the week between sessions some preparation will continue over Crabgrass (an online organising tool for social change groups).

The format of the second day of the workshop on 30 January 2010 depends on the material generated on day one, but we hope to end the day with a participatory intervention somewhere in the south east of this island!